Dispenser mounting assembly



Feb 1967 P. J. VAN LOBEN SELS 3,303,972

DISPENSER MOUNTING ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 23, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,zwrE/Jme PETER C. 74 W lass/V5545,

Feb. 14, 1967 P. J. VAN LOBEN SELS 3,303,972

DISPENSER MOUNTING ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet I;

Filed Oct. 23, 1965 INVEUTOE. pETER cl. WA/LaeE/v $51.5;

prime/0 United States Patent 3,303,972 DISPENSER MOUNTING ASSEMBLY Peter J. Van Lohen Sels, 11838 Cherrylee Drive, El Monte, Calif. 91732 Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 502,902 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-181) The present invention relates generally to the fluid dispensing art; more particularly, the invention relates to an improved dispenser for dispensing liquids and semiliquids, i.e., viscous liquids.

Although the dispenser of this invention is capable of dispensing various types of liquids and semi-liquids, the dispenser is primarily intended for use in carton sealing machines for dispensing glue under the flaps of cardboard cartons prior to folding of these flaps to their final positions. For this reason, the dispenser will be disclosed herein in connection with this particular application thereof.

Carton sealing machines are generally quite complex and vary widely in design and construction, depending upon the particular type of carton on which each machine is intended to operate. Generally speaking, however, most if not all carton sealing machines embody a frame along which travel the cartons to be sealed and a number of glue dispensers or applicators mounted on the frame for applying glue to the flaps of the cartons as the latter move along the frame. These dispensers or applicators are commonly referred to in the trade as glue guns. After the cartons emerge from the glue dispensers, or glue guns, the adhesively coated carton flaps are folded to their final positions by means of so-called plows or other flap folding devices.

My co-pending application Serial No. 453,711, filed May 3, 1965, entitled Applicator for Liquids and Semi- Liquids discloses an improved glue dispenser for carton sealing machines. This prior dispenser is characterized primarily by its simplicity of construction, economy of manufacture, ease of installation, and operational reliability.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a further improved liquid dispenser of the character described.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved liquid dispenser which is intended primarily for use as a glue dispenser for carton sealing machines and'is characterized, primarily, by its adaptability for installation on a variety of standard carton sealing machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved, universal liquid dispenser which may be quickly and easily installed on the standard carton sealing machines with which it is intended to be used.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved, universal liquid dispenser which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, reliable in operation, compact in size, and is otherwise ideally suited to its intended purposes.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those versed in the art from a consideration of the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 diagrammatically illustrates the glueing station of a carton sealing machine embodying a number of improved, universal glue dispensers or applicators according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the dispensers;

FIGURE 3 is a section taken on line 33 in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevation of the dispenser in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view, on slightly reduced scale, of the dispenser illustrated in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 illustrates one mounting arrangement for the dispenser;

FIGRUE 7 illustrates an alternative mounting arrangement for the dispenser; and

FIGURE '8 illustrates yet another mounting arrangement for the dispenser.

The present improved universal liquid dispenser 10 which has been selected for disclosure in these drawings to illustrate the invention, comprises a polygonal supporting bar 12 having a threaded extension 13 at one end. A slider 14 is mounted on the bar 12 for movement therealong and is restrained against rotation about the bar. Slider 14 comprises a generally rectangular body 16 having a polygonal opening 18 slidably receiving the bar 12. A set screw 20 is threaded into one side of the body 16 to releasably secure the slider in fixed position with respect to the bar 12. Extending from the slider body 16 are a pair of spaced, generally parallel ears 22 having bearing bores 24 disposed substantially in a common axis parallel to the bar 12.

Rotatably fitted in the aligned bearing bores 24 is a pivot shaft 26. The ends of this shaft will be observed to extend a distance beyond the outer surfaces of the slider body ears 22. An arm 28 has an integral transverse sleeve 30 at one end which is mounted on the pivot shaft 26 between the cars 22. Sleeve 30 is fixed to the shaft by means of set screws 32. The axial length of the arm sleeve 30 is slightly less than the spacing between the slider cars 22, whereby the sleeve restrains the pivot shaft 26 against axial movement relative to the slider body 16. The ends of the pivot shaft 26 are axially slotted at 34. Threaded on one slotted end of the pivot shaft is a tensioning nut 36.

Arm 28 is urged downwardly, as viewed in FIGURE 3 relative to the slider body 16, by a pair of torsion coil springs 38 mounted on the extending ends of the pivot shaft 26, outboard of the slider ears 22. The outer end 40 of each spring 38 is bent inwardly of the spring for engagement in the adjacent shaft slot 34, as illustrated in FIGURE 3. The inner end 42 of each spring is bent outwardly so as to extend transversely of the pivot shaft 26 and over the supporting bar 12, adjacent the side faces, respectively, of the slider body 16. Projecting from these side faces of the slider body are lugs 44 which define spring seats for seating the ends 42 of pivot shaft springs 38. These lugs have recesses or grooves 46 in which the spring ends 42 engage. As already noted, these springs 38 are tensioned to urge the arm 28 downwardly, as viewed in FIGURE 3. The tension in these springs 38 may be adjusted by releasing the arm set screws 32 and rotating the pivot shaft 26 in one direction or the other, depending upon whether it is desired to increase or reduce the tension in the springs. The tensioning nut 36 is fixed to the pivot shaft, thereby to permit this shaft to be turned, for adjusting the tension in the springs 38, by applying a wrench or other tool to the nut.

Rotatably mounted on the outboard end of the arm 28, for angular adjustment about an axis 48 extending generally normal to the arm, is a dispenser assembly 50 including a dispenser 52 proper and a solenoid valve 54 for controlling liquid or glue flow through the dispenser. Dispenser 52 has a body 56, to one side of which is secured a mounting plate 58 having a threaded stem 60. Stem 60 extends through a bore 62 in the arm 28 and mounts a nut 64 which may be tightened to firmly clamp the dispenser assembly 50 to the arm. Nut 64 may be loosened, when desired, to permit angular adjustment of the dispenser assembly about the axis 48. Extending from one end of the dispenser body 56 is a hose 66 leading to a tank 68 containing glue or other liquid to be dispensed under pressure. Mounted on the other end of the dispenser body 56, and extending generally normal to the axis of the body, is an elongate dispensing head 70 having a row of dispensing ports 72. These ports communicate with the passage in the hose 66. Glue fiow from the glue tank 68 to the dispensing ports 72 is controlled by the solenoid valve 54. Thus, this valve is normally closed to block glue flow to the dispenser 52 and is opened, by energizing the valve, to permit glue flow through the dispenser from the glue tank 68 to the dispensing ports 72.

In use, a number of glue dispensers are mounted in a carton sealing machine 74 in such a way that their dispensing heads 70 are disposed to engage the unfolded flaps 76 of the carton 78 travelling through the machine. The solenoid valves 54 of these several dispensers are controlled by switch means actuated by each carton travelling through the machine in such a way that the valves are opened, to permit glue flow through the dispensers, when their dispensing heads 72 engage the carton flaps. Glue then fiows under pressure from the glue tanks 68, through the dispensing ports 72 in the dispensers, onto the opposing surfaces of the carton flaps. Each dispenser 10 is mounted in such a way that the dispenser springs 38 are effective to urge the respective dispensing head 70 into resilient engagement with the adjacent carton flap. The slider of each dispenser 10 mounts an adjustable limit stop 80 for limiting pivotal movement of its arm 28, under the action of the arm springs 38, when the dispensing head 70 on the dispenser is not engaged with a carton flap.

FIGURES 6 through 8 illustrate various alternative arrangements for mounting the dispenser 10 on diflerent standard carton sealing machines. In FIGURE 6, a mounting bracket 82 has a slot 84 receiving the threaded extension 14 on the dispenser supporting bar 12. The bracket is secured to the bar by a nut 86 threaded on the extension. Extension 82 includes an apertured mounting plate 88 which is adapted to be bolted to a mating part 90 on a carton sealing machine in such a way that the bracket slot 84 extends parallel to the direction of travel.

of the cartons to the machine. Accordingly, the mounting arrangement of FIGURE 6 permits adjustment of the liquid dispenser 10 relative to the machine frame in the direction of travel of the cartons through the machine.

In FIGURE 7, a generally L-shaped mounting bracket 92 has a slot 94 in one arm thereof for receiving the threaded extension 14 on the dispenser supporting bar 12. Bracket 92 is secured to the bar by means of the nut 86 on the extension. Extending from the other arm of the bracket 92 are bolts 96 for securing the bracket to a frame of the carton sealing machine. In FIGURE 7, this latter bracket arm extends back over the dispenser supporting bar 12. Bracket 92 is primarily intended to be attached to the frame of a carton sealing machine in such a way that the bracket slot 94 extends vertically. The mounting arrangement of FIGURE 7, then, permits vertical adjustment of the dispenser 10.

In FIGURE 8, a mounting bracket 98 is secured to the dispenser supporting bar 12. This mounting bracket includes a block 100 which is threaded on the mounting bar extension 14 (not shown in FIGURE 8) and is secured against rotation relative to the mounting bar by set screws 102. Extending through the block 100', on an axis normal to the axis of the mounting bar 12, is a [bore which slidably receives one arm of an L-shaped rod 103. The other arm of this rod rotatably supports a mounting part or base 104 by which the bracket 98 may 'be secured to the frame of a carton sealing machine. The mounting arrangement of FIGURE 8 is intended primarily to locate the dispenser 10 in position for bottom glueing, that is applying glue to the under surface of the carton flaps. In this regard, it is significant to note the dispenser 10 is arranged in such a way that the dispenser arm 28 is urged upwardly, as viewed in the figure, by the dispenser springs (not shown in FIGURE 8).

It is evident that other mounting arrangements may be used to permit installation of the present dispenser on a great variety of standard carton sealing machines. The [dispenser may, of course, be used on other machines other than carton sealing machines.

Those versed in the art will appreciate that the present invention achieves the objects and realizes the advantages hereinbefore mentioned.

Although a specific embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that the same is merely exemplary of presently preferred embodiments capable of attaining the objects and advantages hereinbefore mentioned, and that the invention is not limited thereto; variations will be readily apparent to those versed in the art, and the invention is entitled to the broadest interpretation within the terms of the appended claims.

The inventor claims:

1. A dispenser comprising:

a supporting her,

a slider adjustable along and restrained against rotation about said bar,

an arm extending from said slider transversely of said bar,

means pivotally mounting one end of said one arm on said slider on a first pivot axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said bar,

means operatively connected between said slider and arm for urging said arm in one direction about its pivot axis,

a dispensing head pivotally mounted on the other end of said arm on a second pivot axis parallel to first pivot axis and said longitudinal axis,

means for releasably securing said head in fixed position relative to said arm,

said head including a dispensing port having a central axis normal to a plane parallel to said pivot axes, and

a mounting bracket adjustably secured to one end of said bar for unified adjustment of said bar, slider, arm and dispensing head relative to said bracket in a direction normal to said pivot axes.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein:

said bar has a threaded extension at said one end,

said mountin bracket has a slot extending normal to said bar and receiving said extension, and i a nut threaded on said extension outboardof said lgracket for rigidly clamping said bracket to said 7 ar.

3. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein:

said mounting bracket comprises a block fixed to said one end of said bar, a generally L-shaped rod having one end extending normal to said bar and slidably through said block and its other end extending parallel-to said bar, and a mounting part pivotally mounted on said other end of said rod.

4. A dispenser comprising:

a supporting member including a pair of spaced ears having aligned bearing bores,

a pivot shaft rotatably mounted within said bearing bores and extending axially beyond the outer surfaces of said ea-rs,

an arm rotatably mounted at one end on said shaft between said ears,

fastening means releasably securing said arm to said shaft,

torsion coil springs encircling the extending ends, re-

spectively, of said pivot shaft outboard of said ears,

the ends of said springs remote from said ears being fixed to said shaft and the opposite ends of said springs extending transversely of said shaft along opposite sides of said supporting member,

said supporting member including lugs projecting beyond said sides thereof and defining spring seats facing and seating said extending spring ends, respectively, for restraining said extending spring ends against rotation in one direction with said shaft,

means for rotating said shaft relative to said supporting member and arm when said fastening means are released, thereby to permit adjustable tensioning of said springs to condition the latter for urging said arm in one direction, and

a dispensing head mounted on the other end of said arm.

5. A dispenser comprising:

a supporting member,

an arm extending from said member,

means pivotally mounting one end of said arm on said supporting member,

means operatively connected between said supporting member and arm for urging said arm in one direction about its pivot axis,

a dispensing head pivotally mounted on the other end of said arm on a second pivot axis parallel to the pivot axis of said arm,

said dispensing head including a dispensing port having a central axis normal to a plane parallel to said pivot axes and being angularly adjustable about said second pivot axis relative to said arm to adjust the angular position of said central axis relative to said plane, and

means for releasably securing said dispensing head in a fixed angular position relative to said arm, thereby to retain said dispensing port central axis in a fixed angular position relative to said plane to dispense material to a surface within said plane.

6. A dispenser according to claim 5 wherein:

said dispensing head comprises a valve for controlling flow to said port, and

said valve is adjustable with said head relative to said arm.

7. A dispenser according to claim 5 wherein:

said dispensing head is elongated in a direct-ion parallel to said pivot axes and has a number of spaced, generally parallel dispensing ports arranged in a row extending parallel to said pivot axes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,336,421 12/1943 Prue 118-410 2,674,392 4/1954 Kunz 222103 X 3,088,433 5/1963 Walter et al.

3,135,628 6/1964 Johnson et al. 118-3 3,190,259 6/ 1965 Craig et al. 1l82 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

N. L. STACK, Assistant Examiner. 

5. A DISPENSER COMPRISING: A SUPPORTING MEMBER, AN ARM EXTENDING FROM SAID MEMBER, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING ONE END OF SAID ARM ON SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER AND ARM FOR URGING SAID ARM IN ONE DIRECTION ABOUT ITS PIVOT AXIS, A DISPENSING HEAD PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE OTHER END OF SAID ARM ON A SECOND PIVOT AXIS PARALLEL TO THE PIVOT AXIS OF SAID ARM, SAID DISPENSING HEAD INCLUDING A DISPENSING PORT HAVING A CENTRAL AXIS NORMAL TO A PLANE PARALLEL TO SAID PIVOT AXES AND BEING ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE ABOUT SAID SECOND PIVOT AXIS RELATIVE TO SAID ARM TO ADJUST THE ANGULAR POSITION OF SAID CENTRAL AXIS RELATIVE TO SAID PLANE, AND MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID DISPENSING HEAD IN A FIXED ANGULAR POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID ARM, THEREBY TO RETAIN SAID DISPENSING PORT CENTRAL AXIS IN A FIXED ANGULAR POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID PLANE TO DISPENSE MATERIAL TO A SURFACE WITHIN SAID PLANE. 